KP proposes faceless courts to fast-track terrorism cases as part of Rs70bn security plan

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa administration has proposed establishing faceless courts to expedite the trial of terrorism cases while protecting witnesses, as part of a Rs70 billion security plan aimed at strengthening the province’s police force and counter-terrorism infrastructure.

The proposed reforms also include setting up smart front desks at 406 police stations in major cities and deploying artificial intelligence tools to counter what officials described as false narratives on social media.

At the community level, the plan envisages strengthening Dispute Resolution Councils (DRCs), forming tribal liaison committees, and holding monthly open forums and regular jirgas across all districts.

The proposals were outlined during a security briefing at the Governor House, which highlighted major gaps in the province’s law enforcement capabilities. According to the briefing, the provincial police force is short of 10,587 personnel, while the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) faces a shortage of another 638 officers.

The briefing, attended by KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and other officials, also revealed that the police face a 36 per cent shortfall in operational vehicles, while only 12 per cent of their personnel have access to anti-drone systems.

The figures underline the challenges facing the province as it continues to grapple with a resurgence of militant violence. Officials said 1,003 security personnel, including 627 police officers, and 808 civilians were killed between 2024 and September 2026.

In 2026 alone, up to September, the province recorded the deaths of 255 military personnel, 302 police officers and 304 civilians, according to the briefing.

Despite the shortages and difficult operating conditions, security forces had killed 3,788 terrorists over the past three years, officials said.

The briefing was delivered by Home Adviser Kifayatullah Khan and Home Secretary Amjad Ali Khan, who presented an assessment of the province’s security needs and proposed measures under the Strong Khyber Pakhtunkhwa plan.

Rs70bn security plan

Under the proposed plan, the provincial government aims to allocate Rs70 billion for security, including Rs59.8 billion for the police and Rs10.3 billion for the CTD.

The briefing said a total of Rs98 billion had been spent on security over the past 10 years. It also noted that the previous provincial government had allocated only 3.2 per cent of the total security budget to the merged tribal districts.

The officials said Rs6.4 billion had been approved for restoring counter-terrorism infrastructure, but only Rs1 billion had so far been released.

The plan seeks to address shortages in manpower, equipment and operational capacity. The government aims to reduce the police personnel shortfall from 15 per cent to five per cent, increase the force’s fortification capacity from 75 per cent, and raise its surveillance capability from 15 per cent to 60 per cent.

It also aims to increase the police’s night-fighting capability from 18 per cent to 50 per cent and its anti-drone capacity from one per cent to 50 per cent.

The government is also considering increasing compensation packages for families of security personnel killed in the line of duty and raising security challenge allowances to improve morale.

For the CTD, the targets include increasing the proportion of armoured vehicles from 16 per cent to 70 per cent and the availability of communication jammers from three per cent to 50 per cent.

The briefing said 15,186 Khasadar personnel had been merged into the provincial police force, with the majority described as illiterate, highlighting the need for further training and capacity-building.

The provincial government also plans to extend the CTD’s jurisdiction to all 34 districts, establish district nerve centres in 10 districts and set up a Safe Cities Authority.

Governor vows political ownership of security policy

Addressing the briefing, Governor Kundi said the restoration of peace and security in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was the government’s foremost priority, adding that the province could not leave its police force operating with limited weapons and resources.

He said the provincial government had sought Rs160 billion from the federal government for security, a demand that had received federal support. He added that meetings on security and development matters had also been held in Islamabad to ensure coordination and follow-up.

Kundi said a major apex committee meeting had been held in Peshawar in the presence of the prime minister and senior officials, describing it as one of the largest such meetings in the country’s history.

“We cannot leave the police at the mercy of limited weapons,” he said, adding that the government had decided to provide the force with modern weapons and ammunition and improve compensation packages and salaries for police personnel.

He expressed concern over the absence of police lines in the merged districts and said the failure to support security forces had been a major weakness in the past.

“Full political responsibility for security will now be taken,” he said.

The governor said intelligence-based operations were essential to restoring peace and eliminating terrorism. He added that the province’s security policy would be determined in Islamabad, not in Jalalabad, Kandahar or Kabul.

He also alleged that Afghan territory was being used to facilitate Indian activities against Pakistan, criticising Afghan authorities for their silence over statements about taking control of Peshawar and the reported arrival of drones.

Kundi said the government would not negotiate with those who rejected the state, Constitution and law and took up arms against it. “Terrorists will be responded to in their own language. A zero-tolerance policy is in place,” he said.

He added that the government would adopt effective security and development measures taken by Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The governor said development projects, roads and bridges could only be useful if people’s lives were secure. Restoring public confidence and strengthening the relationship between citizens and the police, he added, could help win half the battle against terrorism.

He also stressed the need to engage young people in positive activities.

“There is no option of defeat or retreat in this war,” Kundi said.